A Seattle bucket list

Photo: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Here's a Washingtonian's "bucket list" -- a to-do before you're dead list. Ours is mostly based in Washington and ranges from lofty, ambitious things to climb to silly, touristy things that are easy (and fun) to accomplish.

Here's a Washingtonian's "bucket list" -- a to-do before you're dead list. Ours is mostly based in Washington and ranges from lofty, ambitious things to climb to silly, touristy things that are easy (and fun)

Climb Mount Rainier: "You will leave sore from your toes to your temples, you will feel drained, your feet likely will be blistered, and your lungs may feel congested from labored breathing of the thin air at more than 2.7 miles high," P-I writer Greg Johnston wrote of the feat in 2007.

Climb Mount Rainier: "You will leave sore from your toes to your temples, you will feel drained, your feet likely will be blistered, and your lungs may feel congested from labored breathing of the thin air at

Hike the Wonderland Trail: If climbing isn't your thing, hike this 93-mile trail around Mount Rainier, one of the country's most famous backpacking trips. It's a tough trek through lowland forests and alpine meadows of more than 22,000 feet in elevation gain. less

Hike the Wonderland Trail: If climbing isn't your thing, hike this 93-mile trail around Mount Rainier, one of the country's most famous backpacking trips. It's a tough trek through lowland forests and alpine ... more

Visit Sunrise at sunrise: Everyone goes to Paradise, Mount Rainier's most popular spot. But fewer people make it to the Sunrise Visitor Center, the park's highest, drivable point. At 6,400 feet, it's 1,000 feet higher than Paradise, and offers gorgeous views of the mountain. less

Visit Sunrise at sunrise: Everyone goes to Paradise, Mount Rainier's most popular spot. But fewer people make it to the Sunrise Visitor Center, the park's highest, drivable point. At 6,400 feet, it's 1,000 feet ... more

Splurge at Canlis: For more than 60 years, this has been Seattle's traditional, fine-dining restaurant to celebrate life's big events. Men are expected to wear a suit or sports coat (some tables require it), and the seven-course tasting menu is $125.

Ask for "Table No. 1," Peter Canlis' old table, where he had a phone installed. It's still there.

Splurge at Canlis: For more than 60 years, this has been Seattle's traditional, fine-dining restaurant to celebrate life's big events. Men are expected to wear a suit or sports coat (some tables require it),

Stargaze at the Goldendale Observatory: Located in Central Washington, this state park is home to a pristine night sky and one of the nation's largest public telescopes. Wait for a meteorological event and go for a tour. less

Stargaze at the Goldendale Observatory: Located in Central Washington, this state park is home to a pristine night sky and one of the nation's largest public telescopes. Wait for a meteorological event and go ... more

Photo: Washington State Parks Site

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Welcome spring with the famous cherry blossoms at University of Washington.

Welcome spring with the famous cherry blossoms at University of Washington.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

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Camp at Shi Shi Beach: Seastacks, tide pools, and an easy hike make this Northwest corner of America one crowded spot in the summer.

Camp at Shi Shi Beach: Seastacks, tide pools, and an easy hike make this Northwest corner of America one crowded spot in the summer.

See hundreds of acres of blooming tulips at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

See hundreds of acres of blooming tulips at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

Photo: Meryl Schenker

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See Mount St. Helens from a helicopter, the best way to see the volcano's devastation and land recovery. (That's Rainier in the background). But there's also terrific hiking, mountain-biking and horseback-riding here. less

See Mount St. Helens from a helicopter, the best way to see the volcano's devastation and land recovery. (That's Rainier in the background). But there's also terrific hiking, mountain-biking and ... more

Photo: GRANT M. HALLER

See Mount St. Helens from a helicopter , the best way to see the... Photo-5894556.80090 - seattlepi.com

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Do the Ski to Sea: This race from Mount Baker to Bellingham Bay pits teams of eight people in a 7-sport, relay race over 90 miles.

Backpack in the Enchantments, a spectacular, high-alpine basin of lakes, granite and mountain goats in the Central Cascades. It ranges from 4,400 to 7,800 feet in elevation and is so popular that there's a lottery system for visitors. less

Backpack in the Enchantments, a spectacular, high-alpine basin of lakes, granite and mountain goats in the Central Cascades. It ranges from 4,400 to 7,800 feet in elevation and is so popular that there's a ... more

Ride STP, the 200-mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland through farmlands and forests. The popular, one- or two-day ride attracts up to 10,000 people each year. (Full name: "Group Health Seattle to Pordtland Bicycle Classic"). less

Ride STP, the 200-mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland through farmlands and forests. The popular, one- or two-day ride attracts up to 10,000 people each year. (Full name: "Group Health Seattle to Pordtland ... more

Eat a nine-course dinner at The Herbfarm, where things can't get any fresher or Pacific Northwest-y. A sample menu features paddlefish caviar on crisp salmon skin and lamb loin from Oregon's Anderson Ranch on tongue-of-fire beans. Starts at $189 per person. less

Eat a nine-course dinner at The Herbfarm, where things can't get any fresher or Pacific Northwest-y. A sample menu features paddlefish caviar on crisp salmon skin and lamb loin from Oregon's Anderson Ranch on ... more

Visit the Columbia Gorge: Carved by ice-age floods, this deep canyon divides Washington and Oregon and stretches more than 80 miles. You can camp, hike and bike here, or just gaze at the dramatic, basalt walls.

Visit the Columbia Gorge: Carved by ice-age floods, this deep canyon divides Washington and Oregon and stretches more than 80 miles. You can camp, hike and bike here, or just gaze at the dramatic, basalt walls.

Columbia Gorge, part 2: Windsurf on the on the Columbia River, where a wind tunnel through the canyon creates wind speeds of 35 mph.

Columbia Gorge, part 2: Windsurf on the on the Columbia River, where a wind tunnel through the canyon creates wind speeds of 35 mph.

Photo: JEFF LARSEN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

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More on the Columbia Gorge: Get up early and go fishing during salmon season.

More on the Columbia Gorge: Get up early and go fishing during salmon season.

Photo: JEFF LARSEN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

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Last one for the Columbia Gorge: Visit Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side. With a drop of 627 feet and a bridge to see it, this cascade is among the country's most dramatic waterfalls to visit.

Last one for the Columbia Gorge: Visit Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side. With a drop of 627 feet and a bridge to see it, this cascade is among the country's most dramatic waterfalls to visit.

Photo: Naveed Iqbal, Getty Images/Flickr Select

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See the Seahawks at CenturyLink in the best seats you can afford and experience the 12's in person.

See the Seahawks at CenturyLink in the best seats you can afford and experience the 12's in person.

Photo: Jordan Stead, Seattlepi.com

See the Seahawks at CenturyLink in the best seats you can afford... Photo-5894573.80090 - seattlepi.com

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Drive the North Cascades Highway, one of the prettiest drives in the country. You'll pass through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park, and see snow-capped peaks, historic dams and alpine lakes. less

Drive the North Cascades Highway, one of the prettiest drives in the country. You'll pass through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park, and see snow-capped peaks, historic dams ... more

Photo: JEFF LARSEN, PI

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Check out Seattle's underground: See Pioneer Square's subterranean warren of passageways and rooms - the ground level before the 1889 Great Fire destroyed much of Seattle. The city was rebuilt with elevated streets, and the lower level is now part of the Seattle Underground tour. less

Check out Seattle's underground: See Pioneer Square's subterranean warren of passageways and rooms - the ground level before the 1889 Great Fire destroyed much of Seattle. The city was rebuilt with elevated ... more

Tour Woodinville's wine country: Visit Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Redhook Ale Brewery and many other wineries in the lush, green Sammamish River Valley. In the summer, include a nice bike ride on the Sammamish River Trail. less

Tour Woodinville's wine country: Visit Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Redhook Ale Brewery and many other wineries in the lush, green Sammamish River Valley. In the summer, include a nice bike ride on ... more

Paraglide off Tiger Mountain. Or hang glide (which is less common). Either way, this area of the "Issaquah Alps" is the best local place to feel like a bird in flight. That's Lake Samammish in the background.

Paraglide off Tiger Mountain. Or hang glide (which is less common). Either way, this area of the "Issaquah Alps" is the best local place to feel like a bird in flight. That's Lake Samammish in the background.

Go salmon fishing from a city pier. But if you want to get out of town, take a boat onto Puget Sound, or fly-fish on a beach in Whidbey Island, where you're likely to catch steelhead trout.

Go salmon fishing from a city pier. But if you want to get out of town, take a boat onto Puget Sound, or fly-fish on a beach in Whidbey Island, where you're likely to catch steelhead trout.

Photo: TOM MARKS

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Walk across the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, Canada. Apologies to Vancouver and Canada in this bucket list; there's a ton of terrific things to do there that we ran out of time to include. less

Walk across the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, Canada. Apologies to Vancouver and Canada in this bucket list; there's a ton of terrific things to do there that we ran out of time to ... more

Photo: George Rose, Getty Images

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Do the Tillicum Village salmon bake: It's touristy, but the chance to experience Native American culture makes this trip worth it. Plus the cruise to Blake Island is beautiful.

Do the Tillicum Village salmon bake: It's touristy, but the chance to experience Native American culture makes this trip worth it. Plus the cruise to Blake Island is beautiful.

Photo: KEVIN MORRIS

Do the Tillicum Village salmon bake: It's touristy, but the... Photo-5894586.80090 - seattlepi.com

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Add your spit and wad to Seattle's gross, colorful germfest that is the Gum Wall. (Not exactly the same thing as climbing Rainier, but consider this an easy one to check off on the bucket list). Photo: jareed, Flickr. less

Add your spit and wad to Seattle's gross, colorful germfest that is the Gum Wall. (Not exactly the same thing as climbing Rainier, but consider this an easy one to check off on the bucket list). Photo: jareed, ... more